If you're of Asian descent, the standard BMI scale may be quietly misjudging you. Health authorities including the WHO and Singapore's Health Promotion Board flag "overweight" at a BMI of 23 - not 25 - because weight-related health risks can begin at a lower BMI in Asian populations. Here's why, and what it means for your number.
Why Asian thresholds are lower
Research has found that people of Asian descent can develop weight-related conditions - such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease - at a lower BMI than the international cut-offs assume. At the same BMI, some Asian populations tend to carry more body fat, and more visceral (abdominal) fat in particular. To reflect that, the WHO recommended additional, lower "trigger points for action" in Asia-Pacific populations.
The WHO Asia-Pacific cut-offs
Compared with the international scale, the Asia-Pacific thresholds shift the lines down:
| Category | International BMI | Asian (Asia-Pacific) BMI |
|---|---|---|
| Healthy | 18.5 - 24.9 | 18.5 - 22.9 |
| Increased risk / overweight | 25 - 29.9 | 23 - 27.4 |
| High risk | 30 and above | 27.5 and above |
Singapore's Health Promotion Board uses these lower thresholds officially.
Japan's JASSO scale
Japan uses its own system from the Japan Society for the Study of Obesity (JASSO), which defines obesity (肥満) from a BMI of 25 - split into four degrees - with high-degree obesity (高度肥満) from 35. In other words, "obesity" in Japan begins roughly where "overweight" ends on the international scale.
How to check your number on the Asian standard
Our BMI calculator has a built-in standard selector. After you calculate, switch it to Asian (WHO Asia-Pacific) or Japanese (JASSO) to see your category against the lower thresholds. Your BMI number doesn't change - only the category does, because only the cut-offs differ.
Who this applies to (and who it doesn't)
The lower thresholds are guidance for people of Asian descent - they are risk-trigger points, not a different definition of disease, and they don't apply automatically to everyone. Like all BMI cut-offs, they are screening, not diagnosis. For a fuller picture, pair your result with your waist-to-height ratio and a provider's advice.